At least 45 people joined me for this Sunday morning's edition of the Dyke
Marsh walk. Today's highlights were a vocalizing Black-billed Cuckoo (a good
migrant at any location), a singing Yellow-throated Warbler (a bird that
already should be breeding at Leesylvania, Mason Neck, or Riverbend- they are
not recorded as breeders at Dyke), a well-observed American Bittern, and an
even better-viewed Least Bittern, both seen on the mud flats across from the
end of the boardwalk. We heard a lone Marsh Wren at the same location. There
are 6 active Osprey nests, a pair of Barn Swallows nesting on a boat at the
marina, a pair of Tree Swallows in a nestbox erected by Chip Johnston and Kurt
Gaskill off of Haul Road, an Eastern Kingbird nest in a Sycamore south of Dead
Beaver Beach, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Baltimore Oriole nests on the Haul
Road peninsula (the former providing great views of an incubating female). We
also witnessed the harshness of nature- a Black Rat Snake depredating a nest
cavity full of Red-bellied Woodpecker nestlings. Warbling Vireos were found in
the picnic area and the Haul Road. Last year's breeding bird survey data
indicates the number of breeding pairs may be increasing, although we do not
reach the safe date for this speccies until June 10. The walk was a great time,
but the large crowd did make for some confusion. I want to personally thank
Sandy Farkas and Henry Brooks for providing services as co-leaders. It made my
job much easier. Now the complete list provided below.
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 9
Double-crested Cormorant 5
American Bittern 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 6
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 10 (with 6 active nest)
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 5
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7 (1 nest cavity depredated)
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
East Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 8 (1 active nest)
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 16
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 12
Marsh Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9 (1 active nest)
American Robin 15
Gray Catbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 2
Northern Parula 3
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 25
American Redstart 4
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Wilson's Warbler 3
Canada Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 17
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Orchard Oriole 2
Baltimore Oriole 5 (1 active nest- 1 destroyed by crows)
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 5
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx